Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-22
ROB WYNNE'S BRIDE.

meet latlCS beng notorious: nut when
we saw his wife our astonshment left us,
for her beauty was simply Undesirable.
We Were invited to meet her at his
home. a quiet. old fashioned house. as
substantial and comfortable as it was
plain; and after the reception we found
that she became the subject of much of
our talk.
There was popularity about her that
none of us could fathom. a popularity
that can be best defined by saving that
she possessed an excess of spirituality.
Not that it was too pronounced. for it
was more of an emanation than anything
else, and certainly no one could be mer-
rier less obtrusive or more charming in
dispensation of hospitalties. There was
but one opinion concerning her beauty
it was simply perfect.
We soon noticed a curious change in
Wynne. He had been a constant fire.
quenter of the club, but now he never
came. He was always prompt to ask us
to call and see him. and his house was
one of the most pleasant to visit of the
many social resorts in Elmport We
made it quite gathering place. fofSirs
Wynne showed to great advantage as a
hostess, an indefinable charm pervading
all that she did, and winning our adj
miration and reverence. 1t was impos-
sible to look at her and not feel that life
possessed something far beyond the toll
and fret of the day, though why this
should be a power of her presence we
could not tell.
had been Wynne's particular chum,
and consequently was the most frequent
|.
showed me that the power which drew
his wife and him together was a strange
passion, though it ran as smoothly as the
most commonplace and placid every day
affection.
OF one thing l soon became aware, and
this was the fact that they We're never
separated. Not that Mrs. Wynne was
obtrusive in her companionship. for she
would remain at one end of the large
drawing room running along the west
front of the old mansion, while Wynne
and | sat smoking i'll the library that
opened off from this: or if we were hav-
ing a coy chat in one of its many al
coves, she would busy herself with some
fancy work in remote corner of the
spacious apartment.
There was something strange in all
that she did or said at least, to me. Her
manner seemed spiritualized, and some
evidence of her nature was furnished by
her work, her conversation and her
amusements.
She sang with a clear, sweet. bell hike
tone. She painted and her pictures We're
strange, dreamy compositions, wonderful
in color. and most fascinating. They had
suggestiveness, hidden meaning that
study alone could reveal; comforting
sensation that gave more delight than
their mere perfectness of form and color.
When she worked the material was of a
filmy nature: if cloth, the texture was
like those misty muslins that the Hindoos
pass through a ring to show their delicacy
or she would busy herself with complex
net work of fine thread, through which
her fingers moved with a dizziness that
was astonishing.
Where she came from, or what her name
had previously been, we We're not told. MOI
did we ask. That she was lady was plain
and we knew that Wynne, in his own
way, and at such time as he should elect
would tell us all that he wished us to
know, and all that it would be our right
to know.
weather threatened storm. 1t was in
September, and avid mass of deepening
clouds tossed fretfully along the sea line
to the south, rising far above the islands
that formed the ocean barrier of Elm.
port. A cheerful fire cracked and famed
in the broad fireplace of the drawing
room, and Wynne and his wife We're in
an entertaining mood, talking and sing.
ing with zest and gladness that made
time pass rapidly.
When their dinner hour drew near
prepared to leave them, but Wynne OBJ
jected, saying:
"Dine with U.S. jack we have Just
what you like, and have something te
tell you.
l could do this easily, for my people
were away, and the servants knew that
If l was not at home by a certain houl
they need not wait. So l accepted the
invitation.
When we returned to the drawing
room after the repast Wynne drew two
large easy chairs and an ottoman neal
the fire, threw two or three heavy log
en- the bed Of glowing Goals, and motion
ing me to take one of the chairs. sanl
back in the other, his wife nesting on
the ottoman at his feet.
The daylight had faded early and tn,
wind was moaning through the elm
with that weird tone which seems to in
vite condolences; and was not SURPRISE
when, without any preliminary, Wynn
said:
Jack, you and my friends have
doubtless, wondered where found m,
wife, and while know that this is m,
business alone, desire that you, at least
shall know the story.
''For it is a strange story, and were
not an actor in it l should say that it wa
impossible.
"You remember that my last summe
excursion was made among the grea
mountain range of the west, and that
after visiting the Yellowstone and Colo
RADIO, | went on to the Yosemite region
saw all the well known sights, and
growing tired of these sought new fields